Virginia S. Waddell, 92, long time resident of Brandon, FL and recently of Cape Coral, was called to join her Lord and Savior while in her home. The daughter of Joe and Josephina Abalos, Virginia and her five siblings spent their childhood on the homestead raising chickens, rabbits, and pigeons to support her family. She survived the misfortunes of the Great Depression and childhood poverty, World War II, and the Vietnam War.
For a time, Virginia worked as a gandy dancer, a section gang laborer, for the Southern Pacific railroad to earn money for her schooling. During her night shifts working on the railroad, she was guarded by a German Shepard who became a long-time close companion. After saving enough money working, Virginia matriculated at University of Nevada. She earned her teaching degree. She went on to share her knowledge with children on an Indian Reservation.
Virginia met her future husband, John K. Waddell, in her hometown. He was a WWII Merchant Marine Officer riding the rails home to West Virginia in a freezing cold boxcar after spending all his pay celebrating in San Francisco. After falling ill on the train, he stopped in Nevada, where he met Virginia. Virginia and John eventually married and moved away from the desert.
Virginia was both a mother and military wife who supported her husband while he served in Air Force and Army. During long periods of wartime separation, she successfully filled the roles of both father and mother for her growing family. Virginia was a dedicated parent, who volunteered in the classroom whenever the school was in need of a teacher.
Virginia was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, John K. Waddell, her son John K. Waddell Jr., her brothers Raymond and Arnold Abalos, and her sister Christina Gutierrez.
She is survived by her son Jonathan Waddell, her daughters Ruth Weintraub and Nancy Waddell, grandchildren Blaine and Blake Waddell, Zach and Caylee Weintraub, Melissa Goode, Stephanie Waddell, Sarah Waddell, and Samantha Waddell, great grandchildren Levin and Mila Waddell, Nevaeh Waddell, Valcary Waddell, Damien Moret-Waddell, Maddison Ripley and Adrina Waddell.
For a time, Virginia worked as a gandy dancer, a section gang laborer, for the Southern Pacific railroad to earn money for her schooling. During her night shifts working on the railroad, she was guarded by a German Shepard who became a long-time close companion. After saving enough money working, Virginia matriculated at University of Nevada. She earned her teaching degree. She went on to share her knowledge with children on an Indian Reservation.
Virginia met her future husband, John K. Waddell, in her hometown. He was a WWII Merchant Marine Officer riding the rails home to West Virginia in a freezing cold boxcar after spending all his pay celebrating in San Francisco. After falling ill on the train, he stopped in Nevada, where he met Virginia. Virginia and John eventually married and moved away from the desert.
Virginia was both a mother and military wife who supported her husband while he served in Air Force and Army. During long periods of wartime separation, she successfully filled the roles of both father and mother for her growing family. Virginia was a dedicated parent, who volunteered in the classroom whenever the school was in need of a teacher.
Virginia was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, John K. Waddell, her son John K. Waddell Jr., her brothers Raymond and Arnold Abalos, and her sister Christina Gutierrez.
She is survived by her son Jonathan Waddell, her daughters Ruth Weintraub and Nancy Waddell, grandchildren Blaine and Blake Waddell, Zach and Caylee Weintraub, Melissa Goode, Stephanie Waddell, Sarah Waddell, and Samantha Waddell, great grandchildren Levin and Mila Waddell, Nevaeh Waddell, Valcary Waddell, Damien Moret-Waddell, Maddison Ripley and Adrina Waddell.
Virginia S. Waddell, 92, long time resident of Brandon, FL and recently of Cape Coral, was called to join her Lord and Savior while in her home. The daughter of Joe and Josephina Abalos, Virginia and her five siblings spent their childhood on the homestead raising chickens, rabbits, and pigeons to support her family. She survived the misfortunes of the Great Depression and childhood poverty, World War II, and the Vietnam War.
For a time, Virginia worked as a gandy dancer, a section gang laborer, for the Southern Pacific railroad to earn money for her schooling. During her night shifts working on the railroad, she was guarded by a German Shepard who became a long-time close companion. After saving enough money working, Virginia matriculated at University of Nevada. She earned her teaching degree. She went on to share her knowledge with children on an Indian Reservation.
Virginia met her future husband, John K. Waddell, in her hometown. He was a WWII Merchant Marine Officer riding the rails home to West Virginia in a freezing cold boxcar after spending all his pay celebrating in San Francisco. After falling ill on the train, he stopped in Nevada, where he met Virginia. Virginia and John eventually married and moved away from the desert.
Virginia was both a mother and military wife who supported her husband while he served in Air Force and Army. During long periods of wartime separation, she successfully filled the roles of both father and mother for her growing family. Virginia was a dedicated parent, who volunteered in the classroom whenever the school was in need of a teacher.
Virginia was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, John K. Waddell, her son John K. Waddell Jr., her brothers Raymond and Arnold Abalos, and her sister Christina Gutierrez.
She is survived by her son Jonathan Waddell, her daughters Ruth Weintraub and Nancy Waddell, grandchildren Blaine and Blake Waddell, Zach and Caylee Weintraub, Melissa Goode, Stephanie Waddell, Sarah Waddell, and Samantha Waddell, great grandchildren Levin and Mila Waddell, Nevaeh Waddell, Valcary Waddell, Damien Moret-Waddell, Maddison Ripley and Adrina Waddell.
For a time, Virginia worked as a gandy dancer, a section gang laborer, for the Southern Pacific railroad to earn money for her schooling. During her night shifts working on the railroad, she was guarded by a German Shepard who became a long-time close companion. After saving enough money working, Virginia matriculated at University of Nevada. She earned her teaching degree. She went on to share her knowledge with children on an Indian Reservation.
Virginia met her future husband, John K. Waddell, in her hometown. He was a WWII Merchant Marine Officer riding the rails home to West Virginia in a freezing cold boxcar after spending all his pay celebrating in San Francisco. After falling ill on the train, he stopped in Nevada, where he met Virginia. Virginia and John eventually married and moved away from the desert.
Virginia was both a mother and military wife who supported her husband while he served in Air Force and Army. During long periods of wartime separation, she successfully filled the roles of both father and mother for her growing family. Virginia was a dedicated parent, who volunteered in the classroom whenever the school was in need of a teacher.
Virginia was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, John K. Waddell, her son John K. Waddell Jr., her brothers Raymond and Arnold Abalos, and her sister Christina Gutierrez.
She is survived by her son Jonathan Waddell, her daughters Ruth Weintraub and Nancy Waddell, grandchildren Blaine and Blake Waddell, Zach and Caylee Weintraub, Melissa Goode, Stephanie Waddell, Sarah Waddell, and Samantha Waddell, great grandchildren Levin and Mila Waddell, Nevaeh Waddell, Valcary Waddell, Damien Moret-Waddell, Maddison Ripley and Adrina Waddell.
Gravesite Details
Inurnment 3/2/2020
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